In May 2024, the UKHSA shared that recent data reveal cases of whooping cough “continue to increase”, with the highest burden born by infants. 1,319 cases were confirmed in March, an increase on January’s 556 cases and February’s 918 cases. This takes the total number of cases in 2024 to 2,793. Unfortunately, during this first quarter there have also been five infant deaths, with young infants being at “highest risk of severe complications and death”. While vaccine effectiveness estimates for pregnancy show “high levels of protection (92%)”, uptake is declining.
Whooping cough
Known as the “100-day cough”, whooping cough (or pertussis), is a bacterial infection that spreads “very easily”. Initial indications are like a cold, but this develops into coughing bouts, gasping for breath, or bringing up mucus. It is a cyclical disease that “peaks” every 3 to 5 years. However, due to pandemic restrictions and behaviour there was a drop in cases. A peak year is “therefore overdue”. Furthermore, the pandemic resulted in “reduced immunity in the population”.
The data in detail
From January to March 2024 there were 2,793 confirmed cases; among these cases around half (50.8%) were in people aged 15 years or older. For infants under 3 months, who are too young to be fully vaccinated, there was a peak in cases to 407 in the 2012 outbreak; this fell after the introduction of the maternal vaccine. More recently, cases in infants under 3 months increased to 48 cases in 2023. Between January and March 2024 there were 108 confirmed cases in infants under 3 months.
Uptake falls
“Vaccination in pregnancy is key to passively protecting babies before they can be directly protected by the infant vaccine programme.”
Vaccination against pertussis is recommended in “every pregnancy” between 20 and 32 weeks, “ideally after the 20-week scan”, but can be given as early as 16 weeks. After birth it is “important” for babies to be vaccinated when eligible at 8, 12, and 16 weeks.
The best defence
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA Consultant Epidemiologist, reminded the public that “vaccination remains the best defence” against this disease, emphasising that it is “vital” that people get their vaccines “at the right time”.
“Pregnant women are offered a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. This passes protection to their baby in the womb so that they are protected from birth in the first months of their life when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines.”
While whooping cough can affect “people of all ages” it can be “extremely serious” for very young babies. Dr Amirthalingam offered “thoughts and condolences” to the families who have “so tragically lost their baby”.
NHS National Medical Director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, agreed that it is “vital” that families “come forward to get the protection they need”. Professor Powis recommended that people who are pregnant and have not been vaccinated yet or have unvaccinated children “contact your GP as soon as possible”.
“If anyone in your family is diagnosed with whooping cough, it’s important they stay at home and do not go into work, school, or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics, or 3 weeks after symptoms start if they have not had antibiotics.”
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